Improvement in breech-loading jibe-arms



2 Sheets-Sheet 2. R. E. STEPHENS.

Breech-Loading Fire-Arm.

No. 65,704. Patented June 11. 186T A1 v I I I I I 31] E] wam N PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON.- B C.

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ROBERT ERRETT STEPHENS, OF OWEN SOUND, CANADA.

Letters Patent No. 65,704, dated June 11, 1867.

' IMPROVEMENT IN BREEGH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, ROBERT ERRETT Srsrnnss, of the town of Owen Sound, in the county of Grey, and Province of Canada, gentleman, have invented a new and useful Breech-Loading Fire-Arm; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and-operation of the same, reference being bad to the annexed drawings, numbered as Plates I and II, making a part of this specification, in which-- i i Figure I is a right-hand section.

Figure II, a right-hand View, showing connecting-rod.

Figure III, sections of breech, connecting-remand thumb-bit.

Figure IV, a section of latch. V

Figure V, a top view of cam-rod, Bite,

Figure VI, a left-hand section. t

Figure VII, a left-hand view, showing thumb-bit and latch.

' Figure VIII, sections of back part of extractor, and top view.

Figure IX, section of front part of ditto.

Figure X, section of clips.

Figure XI, sections of tripping-box.

The invention consists of constructing a breech-loading fire-arm which, by the action of cocking, throws open the breech and dislodges the shell of the exploded cartridge simultaneously.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to dcscribeits construetion and operation.

The breechpiece A is a block of metal or steel, and is thrown on the right-hand side of the barrel B by cocking the hammer C, and when the charge is inserted in the chamber, the breech is closed by compressing the thumb-bit I), connected ther'ewith, to its position against the barrel, and the arm is again ready for firing.

The extractor is constructed in twoparts or sections, E F', the rear end of the front section E working past and over the frontendof the rear section F, and is situated'between the barrel and the cam-rod G, and by the latter they are worked. The cam-rod catches the front part of the front section of the extractor by the crook Hot the cam-rod, and draws'it back to the tripping-box I, on reaching which the crooked endof the cam -rod becoming depressed, detaches the extractor E and allows it to pass over. In the mean time the action of the front section E, on therear section F of the extractor, has displaced and driven out the shell of the exploded cartridge. The section E, on becoming detached from the cam-rod, then flies to its original position, as shown in the drawings, by the expansion of the spiral spring J acting against the wing K on the front section of the extractor. The section E, on being drawn towards the breech by the cam-rod, compresses the spiral spring S, strikes the rear section F at the instant the breech-block passes from the chamber, thereby loosing the cartridge L, and the spiral spring S expanding, throws it out.

The cam-rod is connected to the under part of the hammer by the double link M; and.- from near the top of the cam-rod G, a pin, N, projects, which, when the breech is closed, passes into it, and works reciprocally withv the latch O, for steadying the breech block when the gun is being fired.

The latch 0 works automatically, and by the spiral spring X on the cam-rod, by its conjunction with the angle of the cam-rod. The forward motion of the hammer causes the latch, by its automatic'action, to release its hold of the breech-block. The breechblock is thrown from the chamber by the leverage of the cam P on the extractor applied to a spiral shaped shoulder, Q, on the connecting-rod R, under the thumb-bit D; T are boxes, in which the journals of the connecting-rod of breech and thumb=bit work.

The extractor can be disconnected from the cam-rod by giving. the key U, in the tripping-box I, a. half turn the notch in the pin, which, if downward, will then be upward, and cause the displacement.

When the breech is thrown out to the right-hand side oi the barrel by the leverage of the cam on the spiral-' shaped shoulder on the connecting-rod, the cartridgeis inserted in the chamber of the barrel at the breech by the fingers and thumb of the right hand, the fire-arm being balanced and steadied by the left hand. On the cartridge being inserted, the thumb bit is compressed by shutting the left hand, causing the breech-block to revert to its position in the chamber, and on reaching it the latch O secures it by entering a notch or indentalion in the breech-block.

The invention can in some instances be applied in the conversion of muzzle-loading to breech-loading firearms, by sawing off a portion of the breech of the muzzle-loader, and affixing to it the ports herein described and shown in the drawings; or it may be applied to breech-loaders whose breech-block corresponds to the breechpicce herein described.

The hammer C is operated by otrigger and tumbler-lock, with springs. in the usual manner.

In the construction of my breech-loading fire-arm I do not claim as my invention the breech-piece A acting otherwise than by the thumb-bit, connecting-rod, and leverage, by the com Innd shoulder Q, as herein described.

L and ll are clipsl'ustcncd to the barrel, and in w'qich the sections of the extractor work. They may he made of a shape best suited to the stock of the gun.

What I claim my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The construction and manner of operation in a breech loading fire-arm of the hammer C, in combination with the cam-rod G, working by the double linlg'hl.

The construction of the extractor in We ports or sections E F, in combination with the cam-rod and springs J, S, and X.

The combination of the latch O, and its operation automatically and by the spring X and cam-rod.

The tripping-box I, and its notched key U operating therein, in combination with the cam-rod.

The com P, in combination with the spiral-shaped shoulder Q, on the connecting-rod R, and working by the cam-rod, in combination with the double link and hammer, or its equivalent.

The combination of the connecting-rod R with the thumb-bit D and breech-block A, and the snirnl springs J, S, and X operating substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

' R. E. STEPHENS. Witnesses:

JOHN HEMMELL,

HENRY Gcsr,

JULIUS P. BUCKE. 

